PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Berry (ranked 7695 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hidetoshi Nakamura (ranked 6525 p4p, 524 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Berry
vs
Nakamura

161 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George Berry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hidetoshi Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berry looks to score with a jab to the body but Nakamura is just out of range.
Berry rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nakamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Berry could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Nakamura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Berry keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura won't allow Berry to get back to his feet.
Berry is wriggling around but Nakamura manages to pass to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Berry keeping hold of Nakamura's head, controlling as best he can.
Nakamura is trying to control. Berry wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berry wants to get back to full guard.
Berry is trying to control but can't.
Berry is trying to stand.
Nakamura controlling the action here.
Berry has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakamura is working away from the top position though.
Berry is trying to stand.

Nakamura decides to stand up.
Nakamura lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hidetoshi Nakamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nakamura swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Berry counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berry looking to stall.

Nakamura manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Berry drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Berry jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nakamura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berry gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Berry with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakamura doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Berry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nakamura is trying to control the position but Berry postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berry lands a couple of elbows.
Nakamura looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakamura, not yet.
Berry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Berry loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Berry might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nakamura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nakamura has momentary wrist control but Berry slips an elbow through the middle.
Nakamura wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Berry is now in half guard.
Nakamura tries to roll over but Berry keeps him under control.
Berry working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berry scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nakamura has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Berry is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Berry manages to move to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Berry jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nakamura is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nakamura and Berry has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Berry creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nakamura sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that George Berry will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakamura has taken the fight to the clinch.

Berry pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nakamura rushes Berry and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nakamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura shoots for a double leg takedown but Berry sprawls well. He's pushed Nakamura's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nakamura has a takedown stuffed.
Nakamura misses with a takedown attempt
and Berry counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
George Berry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hidetoshi Nakamura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berry ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakamura moves away.

Nakamura rushes Berry and presses him up against the cage.
Berry is trying to push Nakamura away but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nakamura jumps guard but Berry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura jumps guard but Berry stands there with Nakamura around his waist. Nakamura gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Berry has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nakamura clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Berry working for the choke.
Berry lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Nakamura hold on?!
Nakamura trying to control the action but Berry just sinks the hooks in.
Berry controlling well, preventing Nakamura from escaping the position.

Berry is persistently looking for the submission but Nakamura is defending it well.

Nakamura fending off the submission attempt from Berry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura can't escape the position.

Berry is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Nakamura is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Berry gets his way!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is trying to stand back up.
Nakamura just trying to survive but Berry is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Nakamura wants to get back to his feet.

Berry seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Nakamura's chin but Nakamura turns very nicely into Berry's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Nakamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Berry has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Berry keeping full guard, as Nakamura tries to pass.
Berry keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Berry is trying to keep Nakamura in close.
Berry wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nakamura looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Berry is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that George Berry will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like George Berry has been cut.

Nakamura closes the distance and clinches.

Berry has Nakamura pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Berry pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nakamura tumbling to the mat - Berry dives into Nakamura's guard.

Nakamura scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nakamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Berry counters with a three punch combo that has Nakamura backing up. Nakamura nods at Berry to acknowledge the strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Berry gets tackled into the cage by Nakamura. Nakamura maintains the clinch.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but Berry forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Berry breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nakamura has closed the distance and engaged Berry in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berry tries to circle away but Nakamura has him pinned against the cage.
Berry leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nakamura is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Berry trying to control the position but instead, Nakamura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Berry into the cage.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.
Berry fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Berry slaps away a takedown attempt from Nakamura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
George Berry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hidetoshi Nakamura.

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nakamura showed some decent athleticism there.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura winds up and cracks Berry with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Berry has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nakamura is working away from the top position though.
Berry pushes Nakamura off looking to stand but Nakamura dives back in and keeps control.
Nakamura wants to pass to mount but Berry is defending the position.
Berry gets back to full guard.
Berry is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Berry has his foot on Nakamura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakamura works his way back into a safe position though.

Berry working for a triangle but Nakamura defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Berry clinches with his opponent.

Berry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Nakamura has managed to clinch.
Berry wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Berry pushes off an throws an elbow but Nakamura leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Berry fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Berry throws a head punch that misses.
Berry jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nakamura walks away with a smile on his face. Berry gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Berry is trying to stand up here but Nakamura is controlling him well.

Berry kicks Nakamura off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nakamura takes the fight into the clinch.
Berry looking for a takedown.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Nakamura.
George Berry is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Nakamura moves into range and clinches up with Berry.
Hidetoshi Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Berry is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nakamura missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hidetoshi Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Berry has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Berry!